EP1147039B1 - Windscreen wiper arrangement for vehicles - Google Patents

Description

State of the art

The invention relates to a windscreen wiper system for Vehicles with at least one at least one Wischarm having wiper lever linkage according to claim 1.

Windscreen wiper systems of the type mentioned here are known. They are used, for example, for cleaning used the windscreen of a vehicle and comprise a wiper arm having at least 4-joint wiper lever linkage, which is a stroke-swivel movement the wiper arm allows. Besides, they are Wischhebelgestänge also known, where the Wiper arm is attached to a pivot lever, the in turn rotatable with a torque acted upon axis is coupled. At this Embodiment, the wiper arm is only with the fixedly arranged axis pivoted; of the Wiper arm thus performs no stroke movement.

The windscreen wiper system is below the windscreen attached to the body of the vehicle, the axis with which the wiper arm having Swivel lever is rotatably coupled, in the area of a Junction between an A-pillar, a Front wall and a lateral outer skin of the body is arranged. As this body section are heavily loaded in an impact, are common here several sheets provided the stiffening to serve the bodywork. Besides that is in this area in general a hinge of a Hood attached. Because of by the Bodywork or bodies of the vehicle restricted Space must be the driving axle with the attached, the wiper arm having Swivel lever at a great distance from the A-pillar be arranged away. This arrangement causes in a reverse position of the wiper lever linkage, in the wiper arm near the A-pillar is arranged, a large distance between the inner circle a wiping field of the wiper arm and the A-pillar consists. This leads to an uncleaned triangular disc area of the A-pillar and thus to a deteriorated view for the driver.

The non-pre-published European application EP-A-1 117 573 (WO-A-01/08946), the prior art article 54 (3) and (4) EPC and thus is irrelevant to the question of inventive step, shows a windshield wiper system for vehicles with at least one at least a wiper arm having wiper lever linkage, the one arranged on a stationary first axis first pivot lever and one to one fixedly arranged second axis freely rotatable second pivot lever, wherein the first pivot lever via a first joint and the second pivot lever via a second joint with a coupling element are connected, and with a drive device, one at a distance from the first and second Axles arranged drive shaft, with their Help at least one articulated rod oscillating is displaceable, the articulated rod over a Joint with a rotatably coupled to the first axis Coupling part is connected.

Advantages of the invention

The windshield wiper system according to the invention with the Features of claim 1, in contrast, the Advantage on that the wiper lever linkage in one small distance to an A-pillar or bonnet hinge can be arranged. there is the non-rotatable connection between the first Swivel lever and the torque-loadable first axis releasably formed, for example as Shaft-hub connection, conical connection and the like. In addition, the coupling between the torque-free second axis and that of this only guided second pivot lever solvable be formed, for example as a plug connection. by virtue of this embodiment is an arrangement of the second Axle with which the second pivot lever connected is, in the immediate vicinity of a side wall of the body in the area of the A-pillar or bonnet hinge possible.

The wiper lever linkage has one with a fixedly arranged first axis rotatably coupled first pivot lever and one to a fixed arranged second axis freely rotatable second Swivel lever on. The second axis will be so not subjected to a torque, but only serves to guide the pivoting movement of the second pivot lever. The first and second Pivoting levers are each articulated with a coupling element connected. These are first and second Provided joints. In addition, the windshield wiper system points a drive device which has a at a distance to the first and second axes arranged drive shaft has, with their help at least one articulated rod oscillating displaced is, with the articulated rod over a joint with a rotatably coupled to the first axis Coupling part is connected. The first axis is so acted upon by a torque, whereby the Wischhebeigestänge and thus also arranged thereon Wiper arm are pivoted accordingly. Due to this configuration, an optimal Output (parking) position of the wiper arm, for example outside the field of view of a vehicle occupant lies, and at the same time a reversal of the Wischhebelgestänges to be realized in the the wiper arm arranged as parallel as possible to the A-pillar is.

In an advantageous embodiment of the windscreen wiper system is the wiper arm on the second pivot lever attached or connected to this. Of the Wiper arm and the second pivot lever thus have Same pivot axes, with the longitudinal center (rotary) axis of the second axis coincide. According to another embodiment variant is the Wiper arm coupled to the first pivot lever, wherein here the pivot axis of the wiper arm identical is with the axis of rotation of the first axis.

According to a development of the invention is provided that the first axis between the drive shaft and the second axis is arranged. this makes possible an arrangement of the second axis in one very small distance, for example, to the hood hinge or the A-pillar and at the same time one large distance between the drive shaft and the second axis. The drive shaft can continue so be arranged towards the center of the vehicle. The second Axle and the drive shaft are preferably as possible arranged close to each other to form a compact Structure of the bearing of the second axis, with their Help the second pivot lever and if necessary attached wiper arm are pivoted can realize.

A preferred embodiment of the windscreen wiper system is characterized by the fact that the first and second joints designed as ball joints are. This is possible because the coupling element, that the first and second pivot levers connects to each other, just the movement between transmits the two pivoting levers and the Wiper arm - unlike the well-known 4-joint-Wischhebelgestängen- not arranged on the coupling element is, but with one of the two pivoting lever connected is. Be about the coupling element therefore no moments, but only tensile and compressive forces easily transmitted by ball joints can be supported without the ball joints to be damaged. After a variant the windscreen wiper system are the each with first and second pivot lever provided a ball pin, for example, riveted can be. To facilitate the ball joints the assembly of the wiper lever linkage, since the Coupling element only after assembly and if necessary after painting the swivel lever and if necessary the wiper arm clipped in a simple manner can be. Of course it is also possible that the first and second joints identical to those in the known 4-joint wiper lever linkage built joints are, whose structure, however, much more complex and more expensive than the ball joints.

Finally, an embodiment of the Windscreen wiper system preferred by itself characterized in that the wiper arm at least one with a pressurized fluid acted upon nozzle is arranged. The hydration to the nozzle is preferably controlled so that only during an upward movement of the wiper arm, so if this from its starting position out into the field of view of a vehicle occupant is shifted, the liquid on the Slice is sprayed.

Further advantageous embodiments of the windscreen wiper system emerge from the other dependent claims.

drawing

Figur 1

eine Prinzipskizze eines ersten Ausführungsbeispiels einer Scheibenwischanlage;

Figuren 2A bis 2C

jeweils eine Prinzipskizze der Scheibenwischanlage gemäß Figur 1 mit einem Ausführungsbeispiel eines Wischhebelgestänges in verschiedenen Stellungen;

Figur 3

eine Vorderansicht einer Frontscheibe eines Fahrzeugs und ein weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel der Scheibenwischanlage und

Figur 4

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines weiteren Ausführungsbeispiels der Scheibenwischanlage.

In the following the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing. Showing:

FIG. 1

a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of a windshield wiper system;

FIGS. 2A to 2C

in each case a schematic diagram of the windscreen wiper system according to FIG. 1 with an exemplary embodiment of a wiper lever linkage in various positions;

FIG. 3

a front view of a windscreen of a vehicle and another embodiment of the windscreen wiper system and

FIG. 4

a perspective view of another embodiment of the windscreen wiper system.

Description of the embodiments

The windscreen wiper system 1 described below is generally applicable, for example for motor vehicles (Car, truck, bus), rail or water vehicles. Purely by way of example will be in the following assumed that it was a windshield wiper system for a motor vehicle.

Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of an embodiment the one shown by solid lines Windscreen wiper system 1 for a disc of Vehicle, here a windscreen 3, of the only the lower edge 5 is partially visible. The lying in a below the windscreen Section 3 arranged windshield wiper system 1 has a wiper lever linkage 7, which has a first Pivoting lever 9 and a second pivot lever 11 which articulates with a coupling element thirteenth are connected. It is therefore between the first Swing lever 9 and the coupling element 13 a first Joint 15 and between the second pivot lever eleventh and the coupling element 13 another, second joint 17 provided.

The first pivot lever 9 is rotatably with a first axis 19 of a stationary arranged first Storage 21 connected. The second pivot lever 11 is at its the second joint 17 opposite end free about a second axis 23 of a second storage 25 rotatable, that is, the second axis 23, for example, designed as a blind bearing shaft is, only for rotatable guidance and optionally for holding the second pivot lever 11 serves. The second axis 23 is in one very small distance to a merely indicated Body part 27 of the vehicle, for example a hinge of a hood, arranged.

From everything it becomes clear that the wiper lever linkage 7 is a 4-joint wiper lever linkage.

At the second pivot lever 11 is a to the Windscreen 3 attachable wiper arm 26 attached, the one elongated body with one here has angled course. At the wiper arm 26 is at least one not shown in Figure 1 Wiper element, such as a squeegee attached. During operation of the windscreen wiper system 1 the wiper arm 26 together with that of the second Axis 23 guided second pivot lever 11 to a defined angle range pivoted. Due to the Design of the wiper lever linkage 7 leads the Wischarm 26 while no stroke, but is exclusive pivoted, creating a teilkreisringförmiges Wiping field cleaned on the windscreen 3 can be, of which in Figure 1 only its lower Edge 28 is recognizable.

To operate the wiper lever linkage 7 is a Drive device 29 is provided, the one with a Drive or braking torque acted upon drive shaft 31, which is part of a stationary third storage 33. Through a rotation the drive shaft 31 at its perpendicular to the image plane the figure 1 extending longitudinal center (rotary) axis becomes with the help of a transmission member 35 a joint rod 37 in essentially horizontal direction (Double arrow 41) oscillating shifts, wherein the articulated rod 37 via a third joint 39 articulated is connected to the transmission member 35. So while the here formed by a lever transfer member 35 together with drive shaft 31 rotates, the articulated rod 37 translational in Direction to the wiper lever linkage 7 and in opposite Shifted direction. The articulated rod 37 is a fourth joint 43 with a coupling part 45 connected, which in turn rotatably with the first axis 19 is coupled.

In Figure 1 is further with dashed lines a known windscreen wiper system shown, which also has a 4-joint wiper lever linkage, whose space is essentially the same size as that of the wiper lever linkage 7 according to the invention. The known wiper lever linkage has a wiper arm 47, which rotatably arranged with a stationary Axis 49 is connected. With the help of a Rocker 51, which oscillates via a joint 53 with one displaceable articulated rod 55 connected is, the axis 49 can rotate clockwise and counterclockwise be pivoted. The axis 49 is by means of the link rod 55 with a torque acted upon. For translational displacement the connecting rod 55 is here a drive device provided, which has the same structure, as the drive means 29 of the windscreen wiper system 1. Of the wiping field, that of the wiper arm of the be passed through known wiper lever linkage can, is only the lower edge in Figure 1 57 recognizable. It remains to be noted that the well-known 4-joint wiper lever linkage only one has stationary mounting, wherein the pivot axis of the wiper arm 47 coincides with the axis of rotation of the axis 49, Accordingly, at a distance from the body part 27 must be arranged around the Amount of the distance ΔA between the axis 49 of known wiper lever linkage and the second axis 23 of the wiper lever linkage 7 is greater than the distance between the second axis 23 to the the Wiper arm 26 is pivoted, and the body part 27, otherwise the joint rod 55 of the known Abut the wiper lever linkage on the body part 27 would.

The advantages of the wiper lever linkage 7 with respect to the known wiper lever linkage will become apparent in the following with reference to FIG 3 explained.

From Figure 3, the front screen to be cleaned 3rd in front view shows are with solid line that can be realized with the wiper lever linkage 7, semi-circular wiper field 59 and dashed Line that with the known, with reference to FIG 1 described Wischhebelgestänge realizable Wiping field 61 shown. It is obvious that the wiping field 59 is represented by a hatched, wedge-shaped area 63 larger is the wiping field 61. The wedge-shaped area 63 is located on the side edge of the windscreen 3, immediately next to the not shown A-pillar of the vehicle body. The comparison shows that with essentially the same size space the windscreen wiper system 1 with its wiper lever linkage 7 a larger wiping field feasible is than with the conventional 4-joint wiper lever linkage, ensuring safety and security Comfort to be improved. From Figure 3 is further can be seen that the wiper arm 26 in his Reversal position in which a swivel direction reversal of Wischarms 26 takes place and in which he his smallest distance to the A-pillar, essentially is arranged parallel to the A-pillar, the again approximately parallel to the body part 27 runs.

The following is the kinematics of the windscreen wiper system 1 explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. 2A to 2C, the windshield wiper system 1 in different Shows current positions.

In the position shown in Figure 2A the wiper lever linkage 7 in a starting position, in the not shown part of the wiper arm 26, which has the wiping element, substantially parallel to the lower edge 5 of the windscreen 3 is arranged in a first end position (FIGS and 3). In the starting position are the transmission element 35 of the drive device 29 and the articulated rod 37 arranged in alignment with each other. Around to start the wiping cycle, in which the windscreen 3 first by pivoting the wiper arm 26 cleaned in a clockwise direction, so the wiping field 59 (Figure 3) is swept by the wiper arm 26, the drive shaft 31 is acted upon by drive torque, whereby the transmission member 35 in common with the drive shaft 31 in a clockwise direction in rotation be offset, as in Figure 2A with a Arrow 65 indicated. This will cause the wiper lever linkage 7 in an extended position shown in Figure 2B shifted, in which the second pivot lever 11th fortified wiper arm 26 already a part of Wischfeldes 59 (Figure 3) has swept over. That around the axis of rotation of the drive shaft 31 rotating transmission member 35 arrives in the following from the in 2B in the position shown in Figure 2C shown position in which it again with the articulated rod 37 is aligned. In the illustrated in Figure 2C Reversal is the wiper arm 26 in his other end position, in which he has his lowest Distance from the A-pillar. Will that be now Transmission member 35 further rotated in a clockwise direction, is the wiper arm 26 by pivoting of the second pivot lever 11 moves down until it his first end position or the Wischhebelgestänges has reached its starting position. While the downward movement of the wiper arm 26 takes that Wischhebelgestänges again that shown in Figure 2B Stretch position for a short time.

It should be noted that the drive shaft 31 during a wipe cycle exclusively in one Direction rotates, the rotation speed is preferably constant, so that a uniform movement of the wiper arm 26 is achieved becomes.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a Embodiment of the windscreen wiper system 1. Identical parts are provided with the same reference numerals, so far as to the description of the referenced previous figures.

From Figure 4 it can be seen that the wiper lever linkage 7, which lifted off in the drive device 29 State is shown, a pre-assembled Building unit forms the first pivot lever 9 and the second pivot lever 11 with the attached thereto Wischarm 26 and the articulated with the first and second pivot levers 9, 11 connected Coupling element 13 includes.

The drive device 29 is on a console 67th attached, which is preferably formed as a die-cast part is. In another, not shown Embodiment is the console made of plastic, preferably in an injection molding process, produced. The first and second bearings 21, 25 are formed integrally with the console 67 here. The non-rotatable connection between the first Swing lever 9 and the substantially vertical arranged to a top 69 of the console 67 first axis 19 is in this embodiment realized by means of a hex connection 71, on the first pivot lever 9 with a not shown recording 73 attachable is. Alternatively, the non-rotatable connection between the first pivot lever 9 and the first axis 19, for example, by means of adhesion. For this purpose, the axis 19 as a "standard wave" be executed, which has a knurled cone, the with an appropriately trained recording cooperates on the first pivot lever. The second Pivoting lever 11 is connected to a not shown Recording 75 on the substantially parallel to the first axis 19 extending second axis 23rd attachable, wherein the receptacle 75 in such a way second axis 23 is adapted that the second Pivot lever 11 free to the fixed arranged second axis 23 is rotatable.

It is clear that the wiper lever linkage 7 also subsequently with the drive device 29 in can be easily assembled after the drive device 29 already on with the Body of the vehicle connectable console 67 is appropriate.

In an advantageous embodiment are at least the first and second pivoting levers 9, 11 designed as die-cast or sheet metal bent parts.

A particular advantage of the windshield wiper system 1 is that the axis of rotation of the wiper arm 26, So the second axis 23, designed as a blind bearing shaft is, that is, on the second axis 23rd no torques are transmitted. Based on these Embodiment, the second storage 25th be made flat construction.

With a suitable design of the second Pivot lever 11 or attached thereto, For example, made of plastic cover can a hood gap between the hood and the windscreen 3 are beautifully concealed. Further is a flat construction of the wiper arm 26 possible, so that caused by wind Wind noise is relatively low.

The configuration of the wiper lever linkage 7 and the the drive device 29 allows a complete Housing the windscreen wiper system 1 under the hood, so that this the look of the Vehicle not affected.

The embodiment of the described with reference to FIGS Wischhebelgestänges 7 also allows the Use of parts of the drive device of known 4-joint wiper lever linkage, wherein the Parts of the drive device adopted identical or optionally, for example, by length change adapted to the wiper lever linkage 7 accordingly can be.

Claims (8)

1. Windscreen wiper arrangement (1) for vehicles, with at least one wiper arm linkage (7) which has at least one wiper arm (26) which has a first pivoting lever (9), which can be coupled in a rotationally fixed manner to a positionally fixed first spindle (19), and a second pivoting lever (11), which can rotate freely about a second spindle (23) arranged in a positionally fixed manner, the first pivoting lever (9) being connected to a coupling element (13) via a first joint (15) and the second pivoting lever (11) being connected to a coupling element (13) via a second joint (17), and a driving device (29) which has a drive shaft (31), which is arranged at a distance from the first and second spindles (19, 23) and with the aid of which at least one articulated rod (37) can be moved in an oscillating manner, the articulated rod (37) being connected via a joint (43) to a coupling part (45) coupled in a rotationally fixed manner to the first spindle (19), the rotationally fixed connection between the first pivoting lever (9) and the first spindle (19) and/or the connection between the second pivoting lever (11) and the second spindle (23) being releasable.
2. Windscreen wiper arrangement according to Claim 1, characterized in that the second spindle (23) is arranged directly next to an A-pillar of the vehicle body and/or a bonnet hinge.
3. Windscreen wiper arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first spindle (19) is arranged between the drive shaft (31) and the second spindle (23).
4. Windscreen wiper arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the distance between the first and second spindles (19; 23) is smaller, preferably significantly smaller, than the distance between the drive shaft (31) and the first spindle (19).
5. Windscreen wiper arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wiper arm (26) can be fastened to one of the pivoting levers (9; 11), preferably to the second pivoting lever (11).
6. Windscreen wiper arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first and second joints (15; 17) are designed as ball-and-socket joints.
7. Windscreen wiper arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one nozzle which can be charged with a pressurized liquid is arranged on the wiper arm (26).
8. Windscreen wiper arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first and second pivoting levers (9; 11) are designed as diecast parts or sheet-metal bent parts.

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